Being loyal till death seems like an overblown phrase. But Alvin Attles took it to heart and honored it fully. The league has lost one of its core pillars that shaped the sport. Attles, a Golden State Warriors icon passed away today at the age of 87 surrounded by his family. Nicknamed the Destroyer, Attles was associated with the Bay for 60 years, the longest stint with an organization for any player in history.

The Warriors PR team took to X to announce the death of the franchise’s longest-serving legend. Attles was more than a franchise legend or a cornerstone. He was a beacon for development and evolution. Drafted in 1960, the Hall of Famer played for Philadelphia and the Warriors in his 11-year playing career.

“The Golden State Warriors mourn the loss of franchise legend Alvin Attles, who passed away yesterday at the age of 87. Alvin leaves behind a profound legacy within the game of basketball and the Bay Area community, but especially as a family man and humanitarian. We mourn his loss alongside his wife, Wilhelmina, son Alvin, and all who knew and loved him,” the Warriors wrote.

For his immense contributions, the Warriors even named an award after him. The Alvin Attles Community Impact Award is awarded to a Warriors player who made a positive impact to the lives of underserved youths in the Bay Area. The inaugural award was given to Harrison Barnes. Since then the likes of Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry all have earned the honor.

Likewise, not just some of the most esteemed names, but NBA fans joined hands in sending their condolences.

Alvin Attles will always be remembered

The entire NBA community, especially the Warriors legends who played for him were distraught over the passing of Attles. Chris Mullin, who played for the franchise for 13 years was drafted by the Destroyer. He wrote a heartfelt message to epitomize Attles’ life achievements.

“This is a difficult day for me. Alvin Attles had a huge, positive influence on me and my career, not just drafting me in 1985 and bringing me to the Bay Area but guiding me through my journey as a player and a young man, both in good and difficult times. He was a dear friend, mentor and role model and someone I admired tremendously and tried to emulate. He set the standard for all of us when it comes to integrity and humility and was truly a champion both on and off the court. There will never be another Alvin Attles,” he wrote.

NBA fans too sent their prayers to the Attles family and celebrated the life of one of the franchise’s transcending heroes. “RIP Alvin Attles” was a common sentiment within the community. And it was for good reason, that he had made history through every walk of his life with the Warriors.

In his last two seasons, Alvin Attles decided to transition into a player-coach for the Warriors. In the following 13 years, he coached the Bay Area squad, leading them to a championship. It made him the first Black coach to achieve the distinction. Later, he served in every role possible. An executive, a general manager, and most importantly a community leader.

For the previous generation, Alvin Attles was a trailblazer. Every legend that speaks of him has nothing but high praise, enamoring over his selflessness and authenticity. “My father (RIP) would always speak his name when we spoke about the Dubs! God Bless and RIP” a fan commented.

As part of the Warriors, Attles coached the team for the longest time. In his decorated career, he won 557 games as the coach with a win percentage in excess of 51%. It’s the most in franchise history with Kerr being the only other coach to eclipse 500 wins. He was also one of only six players to have his iconic #16 retired by the franchise. Attles was a true legend, a groundbreaking force for the NBA as well as the league.

“He taught me valuable lessons on being a professional that couldn’t be learned on the court. Later, as our coach during the 1975 championship season, he exemplified leadership, togetherness and a keen strategic ability that enabled us to succeed at the highest level. We shared so many wonderful and memorable moments together. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Wilhelmina, and his entire family. He will be dearly missed.”. These are the words of his once roommate Rick Barry, and they perfectly symbolize the impact Attles had on generations.